Ontario Centre of Innovation
Government fundToronto · Pre-Seed–Growth · 19 people tracked
Investment thesis
Ontario Centre of Innovation fosters the province's innovation ecosystem by connecting businesses, academic institutions, and government to accelerate the commercialization of made-in-Ontario technologies. Through programs such as the Life Sciences Innovation Fund, Ready 4 Market, Collaborate 2 Commercialize, and the Digital Competence Centre, OCI mobilizes public and private investment to help Ontario companies grow, adopt digital and AI-enabled tools, retain and create jobs, and attract private-sector follow-on funding. Its efforts emphasize academic-industry partnerships that maximize innovation across sectors including life sciences and health, with support tied to provincial economic development goals.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 11, 2026.
Team · 19 people
from the firm's website
What they invest in
from 10 of 21 portfolio companiesHealthtech ×6Medical Devices ×6Biotech ×5Digital Health ×4Deep Tech ×3AI & Machine Learning ×2FemTech ×2Cleantech ×1
HQs:Canada×6
Investments · 21 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathCompany improving mental health assessment in clinical trials; raised $6.5M.
Continuing collaboration with LoopX on BoomGuard testing.
Medical device company addressing stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women, founded by Karen Brunet.
Company building productivity tools for construction and industrial field crews.
Esphera designs transgenes that enable budding exosomes to carry multimeric proteins for therapeutic applications, with initial focus on modifying tumor-derived exosomes to create immunostimulatory cancer vaccines.
BiotechDeep TechMedical DevicesToronto, CA
Brian Lichty(Founder, CEO)Carolina Ilkow(Founder, CSO)John Bell(Founder, President)
Company that acquired assets of bankrupt US rival Freight Farms.
Kare Chemical Technologies is a pharmaceutical technology company using a patented catalytic process to convert limonene, a citrus by-product, into high-purity CB1 and CB2 receptor ligands for drug development.
BiotechCleantechDeep TechMedical DevicesNew MaterialsMississauga, CA
Mining/automation company collaborating with Cementation Americas on BoomGuard testing.
Marlow designs organic, sustainable, and toxin-free period care products for menstruating individuals.
ConsumerFemTechWellness & FitnessCanada, CA
mDETECT develops methylation- and NGS-based liquid biopsy tests to monitor metastatic cancer, aimed at clinical validation and commercial diagnostic use.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep TechDigital HealthMedical DevicesKingston, CA
Christopher Mueller(President and CEO)Irsa Wiginton(Business Development Officer)Keira Frosst(Scientific Officer)
Transforming vascular ultrasonography with AI-driven automation software.
myStoria builds tools that help reproductive health patients organize their medical history and arrive at appointments better informed and prepared.
Digital HealthFemTechHealthtech
Jessica(Founder)
NodeAI is a healthcare-focused company that builds algorithms and runs clinical trials with the aim of raising the standard of medical care.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthHealthtechMedical DevicesToronto, CA
Waël Hanna(Co-Founder / President & Chief Medical Officer)Anthony Gatti(Co-Founder / Chief Technology Officer)Mackensey Bacon(Co-Founder / Chief Executive Officer)
Paradox develops a drug design platform to identify and create antibodies that selectively target misfolded, disease-causing proteins while leaving healthy proteins intact.
BiotechHealthtech
Script Runner provides AI-powered prescription logistics software for pharmacies and hospitals, automating delivery workflows and last-mile fulfillment while ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations.
HealthtechLogistics & Supply ChainSaaS
Synakis develops ocular biomaterials, including its lead candidate SNK-125, through pre-clinical research and a pipeline of eye-related products.
BiotechHealthtechMedical DevicesToronto, CA
Thierry Nivaggioli(CEO)
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Ontario Centre of Innovation invest at?
- Ontario Centre of Innovation invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth stages.
- What is Ontario Centre of Innovation's typical check size?
- Ontario Centre of Innovation typically writes checks of $500K.
- What sectors does Ontario Centre of Innovation focus on?
- Ontario Centre of Innovation focuses on Advanced Manufacturing, AgTech, AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Cleantech, Deep Tech, Energy, Healthtech, Medical Devices, Mobility & Transportation, New Materials, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is Ontario Centre of Innovation located?
- Ontario Centre of Innovation is headquartered in Toronto, CA.
- Does Ontario Centre of Innovation lead rounds?
- Ontario Centre of Innovation typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
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